phenol

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.

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phenol (fē´nōl), C6H5OH, a colorless, crystalline solid that melts at about 41°C, boils at 182°C, and is soluble in ethanol and ether and somewhat soluble in water. An aromatic alcohol, it exhibits weak acidic properties and is corrosive and poisonous. Phenol is sometimes called carbolic acid, especially when in water solution. It reacts with strong bases to form salts called phenolates. Phenol is important in industry in the production of certain artificial resins, e.g., Bakelite, and in the synthesis of many drugs, dyes, weed killers, insecticides, and explosives (e.g., picric acid). It is the simplest member of a class of hydroxy benzene derivatives, all of which contain a hydroxyl group attached to a benzene ring; these compounds may be thought of as derivatives of phenol and generically are called phenols.

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phenol

phenol Aromatic compound group whose members each have an attachment of a hydroxyl group to a carbon atom forming part of a benzene ring. The simplest of the family is also called phenol or carbolic acid (C6H5OH). Phenols are colourless liquids or white solids at room temperature. They are used by the chemical and pharmaceutical industries for such products as aspirin, dye, fungicide, explosive, and as a starting material for nylon and epoxy resin.

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phenol

phe·nol
/ ˈfēˌnôl; -ˌnäl/
•
n. Chem.
a mildly acidic toxic white crystalline solid, C6H5OH, obtained from coal tar and used in chemical manufacture, and in dilute form (under the name
carbolic) as a disinfectant. ∎
any compound with a hydroxyl group linked directly to a benzene ring.
DERIVATIVES:phe·no·lic
/ fiˈnälik/ adj.

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phenol

phenol (carbolic acid) (fee-nol) n. a strong disinfectant, derivatives of which (phenolics) are used for disinfecting the skin before surgery. oily p. an irritant substance administered by injection for sclerotherapy of haemorrhoids.

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